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Brakke Consulting’s
Animal Health News & Notes for September 15, 2023
Copyright © Brakke Consulting
Editor: Lynn Fondon DVM MBA
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IN THE NEWS:
Brakke Consulting News
Animal Health Jobs
Other News
Ancestry
Applied DNA Sciences
BetterVet
BioAdaptives
Bionote USA
Companion Protect
Elanco
fintech
General Atlantic
GoodVets Group
L Catterton
LiveStock Impact
Skout’s Honor
SkyKnight Capital
United Pet Care
Withmal
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2023 AAFP Annual Conference
Memphis, TN | Renesas Convention Center & Virtual
October 12-15, 2023
Join us at the 7th World Feline Veterinary Conference
The 2023 American Association of Feline Practitioners Annual Conference is next month. This year’s conference theme, The Ins and Outs of Feline Nutrition and Gastroenterology, will cover all areas of feline nutrition and gastroenterology and is suitable for veterinary professionals of all levels. Earn up 67 RACE-approved CE credits by attending in person and/or viewing on-demand sessions through May 31, 2024. Save on registration with the early bird rate and book your hotel by September 15, 2023.
Click here for more information.
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COMPANY NEWS RELEASES
- Elanco Animal Health Incorporated announced the launch of Varenzin-CA1 (molidustat oral suspension), conditionally approved by the FDA as the first and only treatment to control non-regenerative anemia in cats with chronic kidney disease. (company press release)
- Bionote USA announced that they now serve the equine market with the introduction of equine progesterone and equine Serum Amyloid A (SAA) tests to its Vcheck diagnostics line. The Vcheck line features two in-clinic analyzers that provide quantitative results on important biomarkers in 15 minutes or less. (company press release)
- BioAdaptives, Inc. announced the spin-off of its LiveStock Impact Division as a wholly owned subsidiary. The new company, LiveStock Impact, Inc., will pursue additional initiatives and alliances while continuing to develop and market natural supplements for performance animals and pets; and will expand its activities globally for veterinary supplements. (Globenewswire)
- Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. and the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine announced the signing of a sponsored research agreement for a translational research study to accelerate the development and optimization of the Company’s LineaDNA-lipid nano particle (LNP)-based veterinary vaccine platform for veterinary diseases. (streetinsider)
- Pet insurance company Companion Protect announced it has closed an investment of $27 million in a Series A round led by fintech and strategic investors from the venture capital arm of CSAA Insurance Group, Avanta Ventures, Liberty Mutual Insurance, shareholder insurance business Old Republic International Corporation and Stray Dog Enterprises. (GlobalPets)
- United Pet Care (UPC), a pet healthcare membership provider, has chosen BetterVet as its exclusive mobile veterinary partner. The collaboration between BetterVet and UPC offers UPC members exclusive access to 20% savings on mobile veterinary care. (DVM360)
- GoodVets Group LLC announced it has received a strategic growth investment from General Atlantic, joining existing investor SkyKnight Capital, L.P. GoodVets partners with entrepreneurial veterinarians to build and operate state-of-the-art care facilities in fast-growing markets. (Businesswire)
- Skout’s Honor announced the launch of a new line of “brushless” products that break down and prevent plaque and tartar while freshening breath. The new line includes water additives, an oral gel, dental wipes and an advanced dental drops solution. (Pet Business)
- Ancestry, the company focusing on consumer DNA testing and family history, has released Know Your Pet DNA. The dog DNA test offers breakdown of a dog’s breed(s); close genetic matches to other dogs in the database and dogs with similar breed mixes in the local area; and information on the unique genetic makeup of your pup with 30 behavioral (e.g., likelihood to have separation anxiety) and physical traits (eg, noise sensitivities). (DVM360)
- JAPAN L Catterton announced that it has made a strategic investment in Withmal, a growing veterinary services group in Japan with over 20 pet clinics across the country. Financial terms were not disclosed. (PRnewswire)
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Animal Health Jobs
With today’s tight competition for top animal health talent, you need every advantage to attract the best people. There’s a reson Animal Health Jobs is the premier job board for the animal health and animal nutrition industry. With our tiered packages, you choose the level of service that’s right for your company. We accept roles across animal health, in marketing, development, communications, technical sercices sales, R&D and more. Whether you need a cat, dog, horse, pig, cow or poultry person, you’ll find the best ones here.
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ANIMAL HEALTH STOCK PRICE TRACKER
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ANIMAL HEALTH NEWS
- SWEDEN – ASF The Swedish Veterinary Institute confirmed that African swine fever has been detected in a sample from a dead wild boar found just southeast of Fagersta. This is the country’s first case and officials says it is not clear how the infection came to Sweden. (Feedstuffs)
- US – INFORMED CONSENT GUIDANCE The FDA announced the availability of draft guidance for industry that will help ensure that animal owners who are considering having their pet participate in a clinical study for a new animal drug understand the risks and benefits of their participation. Draft Guidance for Industry (GFI) #282, entitled “Informed Consent Forms for Studies that Enroll Client-Owned Companion Animals,” outlines the basic elements of informed consent in animal drug clinical studies. The FDA is accepting public comments on the draft guidance until November 14, 2023. Comments can be submitted electronically via the Federal eRulemaking Portal, or in writing to Dockets Management Staff (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. (FDA)
- US – VETERINARY SCHOOLS Nearly a dozen newly proposed veterinary colleges have been announced in the past two years, which represents a sizeable potential increase to the existing 33 U.S. veterinary colleges. Some universities have already secured site visits from the while others are just in the discussion stage. The proposed schools are: Ana G. Méndez University (Puerto Rico); Arkansas State University; Chamberlain University (Georgia); Clemson University (South Carolina); Lincoln Memorial University-Orange Park (Florida); Lyon College (Arkansas); Rowan University (New Jersey); Utah State University; University of Maryland Eastern Shore; Rocky Vista College (potential campuses in Colorado, Utah or Montana); and Murray State University (Kentucky). (AVMA)
- WORLD – ANTIBIOTIC USE According to the World Organization for Animal Health’s (WOAH) Seventh Annual Report on Antimicrobial Agents Intended for Use in Animals, global antimicrobial use in animals has declined by 13% in 3 years. Less than 20% of antimicrobials used in animals in 2019 were of highest priority and critical importance for human health. (Feedstuffs)
- US – ANIMAL LEGISLATION A bipartisan bill was introduced in the House last week to quantify how industry consolidation is affecting the livestock industry. The Livestock Consolidation Research Act would direct USDA’s Economic Research Service to study the issue and report back to Congress. The Livestock Consolidation Research Act requires the Economic Research Service administrator to publish a report on consolidation and concentration in the livestock industry no later than one year after the latest Census of Agriculture is released. The study would specifically focus on beef, dairy, pork and poultry production, including broilers, eggs and turkeys. (Feedstuffs – subscription)
- US – RACE HORSE SAFETY The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) – a federally created oversight panel – found no single cause of death among 12 horses at Churchill Downs this spring, but recommends further action and analysis to mitigate risk at the home of the Kentucky Derby. The report also suggested improved veterinary screening and the creation of a blue-ribbon committee to study synthetic surface options throughout the sport. (ABC News)
- UK – CAT DIETS Researchers at the University of Winchester, UK, conducted cat owner surveys and found that those who fed their cats vegan diets tended to report better health outcomes for their pets than those who provided meat-based diets, though the differences were not statistically significant. The research surveyed 1,369 cat owners about the health of cats that had been fed either a vegan or meat-based diet for at least one year, but did not analyze the nutrient content of the cats’ diets. The research was published in the journal PLOS ONE. (Eurekalert)
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BRAKKE CONSULTING VIEWPOINT
Along with some of my Brakke colleagues ,we recently attended the KC Animal Health Corridor event. Kudos to the organizers as the show ran smoothly and gave an excellent opportunity for interaction between the various stakeholders. Attending these sort of events in my opinion is a good investment to improve animal health in all its iterations.
I read an article recently that the author talked about in the post COVID world, we are paying ‘5 Star prices for 2 Star service’. The author couldn’t be more right as we see prices go up dramatically but service goes down, almost at the same inverse proportion. Take travelling on airlines: prices for economy now are what we used to pay for first class. And good luck getting there on time, and God help you if you have a delay. That happened to me (like all of us) and you try to call in to get help – when after several instructions on key-padding info, they tell you to get on the website for faster service. Which you do, and then it tells you can’t do anything online – you need to call. Then you call back and they tell you the wait is anywhere from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. Or you can experience AI by messaging a chatbot. Who tells you eventually they cannot do anything – you have to call.
On a recent flight that landed on time (late in the evening), there wasn’t enough help to bring the plane to the gate – nor offload – so we waited almost 1 hour. You get the impressions; and I’m sure all of you have similar or better (worse) stories.
The point of all of this is to raise awareness that in my view, customer service, meeting and exceeding expectations trumps all. And as important as innovation is (as we witnessed at the KC corridor event), we cannot forget the fundamentals of business – of which customer service is arguably the most important. How is your company doing? Are you measuring it correctly and setting plans to constantly improve? Maybe offering 5-star service for a 2-star price is the ultimate competitive advantage!
Paul Casady
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YOUR VIEW
Last week, we asked if you planned to switch from oral to injectable flea & tick products, once they were available in the US. 22% of you said yes, right after approval; 36% said only after the product has been on the market for a while; and 42% said that you prefer the current products you are using.
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